ANN ARBOR — Gas mileage of new vehicles sold in the U.S. was up last month — its highest mark since last August.
“The improvement likely reflects the increased price of gasoline in May,” says Michael Sivak, a research professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Institute.
Sivak and his colleague Brandon Schoettle found that the average fuel economy of cars, light trucks, vans, and SUVs purchased in May was 25.5 mpg, up from 25.2 mpg in April.
Overall, fuel economy is up 5.4 mpg from October 2007. However, the average vehicle fuel economy during the first eight months of this model year (October 2014 through May 2015) — 25.3 mpg — has stayed the same as the preceding model year.
Sivak and Schoettle have also issued an update of their national Eco-Driving Index, which estimates the average monthly emissions generated by an individual U.S. driver.
During March, the Eco-Driving Index remained at 0.82 for the third month in a row. Emissions of greenhouse gases per driver of newly purchased vehicles are now down 18 percent, overall, since October 2007.
For more information visit umtri.umich.edu.
